The Dog Squad

Brilliant and heroic, the police dogs and handlers of the Dog Squad put themselves on the front line every day to fight crime and keep citizens safe.

Meet Ruger, the go-get-'em police dog that bit through a couch to catch a cat burglar, and Butch, the courageous dog that put its life on the line to take down a man armed with a knife. There's Michelle, the police detective turned Dog Squad handler, whose expertise as a trainer earned her an unbeatable two-dog tracking team; and there's digger, the police dog so loyal it stood guard over its handler, Gary, after he was gunned down by Mad Max.

These stories of the Victoria Police Dog Squad's courage in the face of danger give a rare insight into the high-octane world of police dog work, and into the bond that exists between a police dog and its handler. Handlers share stories of training some of the best and brightest canine cadets, then taking them out onto the job – where dogged pursuits save lives.

About the Author

Vikki Petraitis is a bestselling author with twenty years' experience. Her book about Frankston serial killer Paul Denyer has become a classic in the true-crime genre. She has written: The Phillip Island Murder; Victims, Crimes and Investigators; The Frankston Murders; The Great John Coleman; Rockspider; Cops: True stories from Australian Police; Forensics: True Stories from Australian Police Files; Crime Scene Investigations: More Stories from the Australian Police Files and Salvation - The True Story of Rod Braybon's Fight for Justice. She has had stories published in six anthologies. Vikki works as a writing consultant and ghostwriter, helping others to tell their stories.